Persepolis

Dear Ms. Satrapi,



My name is Rocio Martinez, AKA Rosie. First and for most I would like to congratulate you on your novel Persepolis. I was assign to read your novel, by my English teacher. Since the first day I started to read your novel I could not put it down and I even got my eleven year old child hook on it. I love the way you describe every moment you lived. It made me feel like if I was by your side every minute of it. You explain things so clearly that the perceptions I had of the people from your country are gone. I know it is wrong to stereo type, but I was not as informed as I am now. Reading your novel made me understand a lot of things. To be honest with you, I was afraid every time I was near anyone that had features like the men and women of your country. I was once in an amusement park and a lady with a veil knelled in the restroom and started to pray and this was not long from the nine eleven event. The first thing that went through my mind was that she was up to no good and the fear beat me, I had to leave the restroom. I spoke to my family, trying to convince them for us to leave the park. At that point, my daughter explain some of the culture to help calm me down. Now that I have read your novel, I feel so bad for judging the lady. Knowing everything you and your people went through has made me realize the enormous mistake I was making. Now I come to realize that not only I have judge you and your people wrong but have notice that a lot of us judge you guys with out having our facts straight. Going back to your novel I think you were and are very brave. The things you went through as a child are not easy for a child to understand and you did a great job in surviving this and getting to tell it. I loved how you describe yourself as a child. I identify my self with you in many aspects, even though I have never been in a war or with a government trying to impose things on me. I love to speak my mind out and fight for my rights as a human being and a woman. You and your family went through so many battles and were able to win them. The lost of your uncle Anoosh was a very hard time for you. You even lost fight in God and kicked him out of your room. It is very hard for an adult to get over the death of someone so especial, so I could only imagine how hard it was for you to have lost your uncle. When I read The Key it made me see that you were smarter than you thought you were. You were so curious to find out if your cousin Peyman was also given the key to heaven, that when he called to invite you to his party you questioned him. Did you at this point question why some boys were given the key and others were not? Now I realize that not only your country used this unscrupulous tactics to have low income kids lour into the forces. We see this from many countries in the everyday live. Unfortunately many kids still believe in their lies. You know Ms. Satrapi, in the chapter The Party, I thought your idea of chasing Ramin with nails in between your fingers was very crazy and at the same time it me laugh a lot. You did all this just to teach him a lesson for what his dad believed in, with out realizing he had nothing to do with the way his dad thought. When I read this chapter I was wondering if you at the time realize how much harm you could have cause Ramin. If not, did you think about it after your mom asked you how you would like to be nailed from your ears? The things you describe are so vivid, that I could feel the pain in your heart and sole. I don't know how after seeing all the things you did, you still have the courage to tell it. I want to command you for being such a great woman and for wanting to teach others some of the history of your country and people. I won't take anymore of your time, it's been a pleasure reading your novel and I'm honored to say I have enjoyed it and learn a lot from it. I assure you I will be getting you second book. you have left a curiosity in me to learn more about you and your country. Thank you for giving me a little more knowledge.

Sincerely,

Rosie